Backgrounder: US states' voting records in presidential elections since 1980, prospects in 2008 -- china.org.cn

With days to go before the US 50 states and the District of Columbia make their choices, separately, for the next president and vice president on November 4, US news media and political analysts are evaluating the potential election results based on voting records and poll findings.

The following are the voting records of the 50 states and the District of Columbia in the latest seven presidential elections since 1980, and their current polling numbers and speculated colors.

State (D.C.) Times for Republican Times for Democratic in 2004

* Obama:McCain (%) *Colors

Alabama 7 0 R 36:58 red

Alaska 7 0 R 37:55 red

Arizona 6 1 R 46:53 red

Arkansas 5 2 R 41:53 red

California 3 4 D 56:33 blue

Colorado 6 1 R 53:45 blue

Connecticut 3 4 D 56:31 blue

Delaware 3 4 D 56:38 blue

D.C. 0 7 D 82:13 blue

Florida 6 1 R 51:47 blue

Georgia 5 2 R 47:52 red

Hawaii 1 6 D 63:32 blue

Idaho 7 0 R 26:68 red

Illinois 3 4 R 59:35 blue

Indiana 7 0 R 46:45 purple

Iowa 3 4 R 52:42 blue

Kansas 7 0 R 31:63 red

Kentucky 5 2 R 39:55 red

Louisiana 5 2 R 43:50 red

Maine 3 4 D 56:35 blue

Maryland 2 5 D 54:39 blue

Massachusetts 2 5 D 53:34 blue

Michigan 3 4 D 58:36 blue

Minnesota 0 7 D 57:38 blue

Mississippi 7 0 R 33:46 red

Missouri 5 2 R 48:50 purple

Montana 6 1 R 44:48 purple

Nebraska 7 0 R 60:34 red

Nevada 5 2 R 52:45 blue

New Hampshire 4 3 D 55:39 blue

New Jersey 3 4 D 59:36 blue

New Mexico 4 3 R 45:40 blue

New York 2 5 D 62:31 blue

North Carolina 7 0 R 52:46 blue

North Dakota 7 0 R 45:43 purple

Ohio 5 2 R 51:47 blue

Oklahoma 7 0 R 34:61 red

Oregon 2 5 D 48:34 blue

Pennsylvania 3 4 D 55:43 blue

Rhode Island 1 6 D 45:31 blue

South Carolina 7 0 R 37:59 red

South Dakota 7 0 R 41:48 red

Tennessee 5 2 R 39:55 red

Texas 7 0 R 38:57 red

Utah 7 0 R 32:55 red

Vermont 3 4 D 57:36 blue

Virginia 7 0 R 53:44 blue

Washington 2 5 D 55:34 blue

West Virginia 3 4 R 44:53 red

Wisconsin 2 5 D 53:42 blue

Wyoming 7 0 R 32:58 red

* According to the latest polls released by the CNN

* Colors designated by the CNN, red for Republican, blue for Democratic, purple means no clear preference.

(Xinhua News Agency November 4, 2008)